Gorillaz Challenge Ed Sheeran For U.K. Chart Crown

Don’t bet against it. The virtual band’s return album Humanz (Parlophone) is trailing Sheeran’s Divide (Asylum) by just 300 combined sales to open in second place on the midweek albums chart, according to the Official Charts Company.Humanz, which is positioned for a top 3 start in the U.S., will be the group’s second No. 1 if it snags the crown from Sheeran, whose third and most recent set has topped the national chart for eight consecutive weeks.

Many have tried and failed to overcome Sheeran’s Divide, including Drake, Take That, Kendrick Lamarand Steps, whose comeback LP Tears on the Dancefloor (Steps Music) led the English singer-songwriter’s album at the halfway point last week, but fell away at week’s end.

“I’m The One,” which features Justin Bieber, MigosmemberQuavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne, has a 2,000 combined sales lead over chart-topper “Symphony” and it’ll be the Miami producer’s first No. 1 in the market if it hangs on until Friday’s Official Chart reveal.